Gilberts the man, but the paycut doesnt really matter in the scheme of things. Now the Wiz have 3 mil more a year to spend on a fringe player, woop dee doo. If he really wanted to help them he woulda taken a Jamison type deal and they would had like 10 mil to work with.
Its a decent gesture but it doesnt help them in the scheme of things.

he's a clown - I'm pretty sure he's done it so he doesn't look bad. For one, 111 millions is still way more than he deserves, he should probably get somewhere in the 10-12, if not less. Also, 2+ millions a year will not make the wizards a better team, so it's not like he's helping anybody. If he really wanted to make a difference, he should have signed a contract for 5 millions less, after all - what can 111 millions buy that 80 millions can't ...

Gilbert is a show off. His mouth gets him into a lot of trouble. Why isn't he playing on Team USA? That is because he said he was too good first of all and then he said that he was going to score 50 points on PHX (coached by D'Antoni) because they never considered him. But he is still a great player.

Gilbert is one of the most inexplicably hated on players in the league.

Media were saying the Wiz shouldn't re-sign him, and that they're a better team without him? Really? Why?

Because he's similarly shot happy to other superstars in the league? Because he's candid, and will actually say what he means and not give bullshit answers? (which has never really affected the team. He's not Terrell Owens) Because he blogs? (MSM anti-blog bias!! lol)

Not only is Gilbert hilarious, he's a class act too. Who else befriends one of the team's ball boys and calls him on his cell to chat with him?

You're right, it is sad. This dude is hated on for being a real person in an athletic world full of media trained robots. If you'd rather hear Lebron or Dwyane Wade's post game interviews than Gilbert's, you need to check your pulse.

Case in point, my name is inspired by maybe the best post game quote of all time.

you are in love with the image that gilbert is desperately trying to project (even if it costs him 16 millions).

Come on, arenas a team player? Didn't he suddenly develop an "injury" in 2006 when he found out is he going to be cut from the US team? And later on started throwing dirt at the coaches because they dared to cut him?

You have to look very carefully at the bad things a person does. It's easy to say the right things if you're reasonably smart, but it's a lot harder to deal with adversity.

He said reapeatedly that he will take less money if the Wizards sign Jamison, to back off that promise now would mean his whole image going down the drain. For Arenas, his image is critical, he's a maniac that way. If his team was all it mattered (like he claims even now), why not stay with the Wizards one more year - nobody put a gun to his hand to force him to exercise his option ... There is only one reason to do this, to get more money. I'm not saying it's a bad thing - I have no problem with that. But don't come to me and pretend you don't care about money and all you think of is the team ... give me a break ...

Alright so he may have a gone a little over the edge there. But in a way he's right. I mean Jose was a back-up at that time. I love Jose, he's my favourite Raptor. But I could see him getting a little upset about that. However he did go a little too much there.

But that's it though..what else did he do wrong? You can say he's an ignorant bastard because of that forever.

you are in love with the image that gilbert is desperately trying to project (even if it costs him 16 millions).

Come on, arenas a team player? Didn't he suddenly develop an "injury" in 2006 when he found out is he going to be cut from the US team? And later on started throwing dirt at the coaches because they dared to cut him?

You have to look very carefully at the bad things a person does. It's easy to say the right things if you're reasonably smart, but it's a lot harder to deal with adversity.

He said reapeatedly that he will take less money if the Wizards sign Jamison, to back off that promise now would mean his whole image going down the drain. For Arenas, his image is critical, he's a maniac that way. If his team was all it mattered (like he claims even now), why not stay with the Wizards one more year - nobody put a gun to his hand to force him to exercise his option ... There is only one reason to do this, to get more money. I'm not saying it's a bad thing - I have no problem with that. But don't come to me and pretend you don't care about money and all you think of is the team ... give me a break ...

Didn't Chauncy Billups do the same thing this year? Isn't he considered one of the great team leaders in the league? And saying he's going to drop 50 on them is hardly "throwing dirt" on them. It's speaking his mind...something that happens FAR less than it should in the oh-so media savvy world of NBA superstars.

As for your second point, damn near every player in the league is out for theirs. Why not stay with the Wizards for one more year without an extension? Well I could give Gilbert's wonky knee about 111 million reasons why signing a long term contract ASAP is a smart move. That has nothing to do with "loyalty" or "being a team player". That's being intelligent, plain and simple. Why risk your career while playing for below market value when you can guarantee your family long term security with a new contract? Life and family comes before basketball, and to criticize any player for wanting a long term deal as soon as he can get it is unfair, especially when he gave money back on the deal.

As for the deal itself, you're buying into a serious double standard. Arenas isn't a team player because he's goign after slightly less than the max money, right? So what in the fuck would you classify Kevin Garnett in Minnesota as? Because the consensus is that Garnett is about the best teammate out there, great for the organization, team leader, etc etc

HOWEVAH, dude signed a deal that resulted in the NBA implementing max contracts. His deal was through the roof outrageous. Yet Garnett, because he's so serious and intense on the court and was perceived to have "no help", is somehow exempt from the criticism that Arenas gets?

A players contract has no bearing on what kind of teammate he is. Unless he takes less than he's offered, in which case it speaks positively about them.

And who doesn't want Gilbert on their team, honestly? You wouldn't want to be this guys teammate? Stealing a rookies car and painting it pink wouldn't be a good time? What about dunking off trampolines during a time out? No?

Gilbert gets hated on because he's not afraid to let people see him having fun. It's a shame.